India, Srinagar: According to an Indian Army spokesman, two soldiers and four suspected mutineers were killed Today in a fierce gun battle in Indian-held Kashmir near the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. The six died during a heavy exchange of fire in the border village of Marsari, 130 kilometres northwest of the of Srinagar, deputy inspector general of police for the frontier area, Gharib Das said.

The 16-hour gun battle began on Friday when government forces zeroed in on an abandoned house after receiving information about the presence of suspected rebels. “Two soldiers were killed along with four terrorists in the operation,“ defence spokesman Goswami told AFP. Two other soldiers were wounded and have been taken to a military hospital, according to police.

Last week eight suspected mutineers were killed in different gun battles with Indian government forces in the Kashmir valley, according to the army. The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians.